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Foundations of Physical Activity and Health Promotion in Early Childhood

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Physical Activity and Health Promotion in the Early Years

Part of the book series: Educating the Young Child ((EDYC,volume 14))

Abstract

Advances in technology have directly impacted the physical activity levels of children. Physical activity refers to any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that result in energy expenditure (Meeks L, Heit P, Page R, Comprehensive school health education: totally awesome strategies for teaching health. McGraw Hill, New York, 2013). Despite well-documented research defining the importance of physical activity during early childhood, today’s children are generally less physically active than children from prior generations. Physical inactivity among children is a public health concern that may be entirely preventable. Regular physical activity is one of the most important things individuals of all ages can do for their health, and early childhood is a critical time for developing self-care habits, including regular exercise. This chapter will define key terms related to physical activity and children’s health, examine international trends in physical activity among children, and provide a rationale for promoting physical activity and wellness in early childcare settings.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical and Health Education, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, PA, USA

    Hannah J. Brewer

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  1. Hannah J. Brewer
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Correspondence to Hannah J. Brewer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical and Health Education, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USA

    Hannah Brewer

  2. Journal and Book Series Editor Springer, Emerita, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA

    Mary Renck Jalongo

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Brewer, H.J. (2018). Foundations of Physical Activity and Health Promotion in Early Childhood. In: Brewer, H., Renck Jalongo, M. (eds) Physical Activity and Health Promotion in the Early Years. Educating the Young Child, vol 14. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76006-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76006-3_1

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